2002 VI Definitive – € 0,58 – Full Sheet

2002 VI Definitive – € 0,58 – Full Sheet

Description

€ 0,58 (2002) Full Sheet

€ 0,58 — Ruine Aggstein an der Donau

The Aggstein ruin, beautifully situated on top of a rock 300 m above the Danube valley, was first documented as a stone castle built during the first quarter of the twelfth century. In 1181, the castle became the property of the Kuenringer, landed gentry of medieval times who colonized large parts of the Waldviertel region north of the Danube. In 1230 and 1295, the castle was attacked and conquered by adversaries. It progressively deteriorated, and efforts to reconstruct it were finished in 1436. After that it went through several transformations. In 1529, the Turks converted it into an artillery defence, and in 1606 it was renovated in Renaissance style. When it came into the possession of Count Rüdiger von Starhemberg in 1685, Aggstein deteriorated. Stones and wooden beams were removed from the walls to build the Monastery of Langegg. Today only stone walls and Gothic remnants remain of this historic structure.